Eldest Brother Han didn’t say a word and just sighed. Old Man Han however, started to huff a breath of smoke.
Second Brother Han thought for a while and called his wife, “You and Jinyu are cooking together because we can’t let the whole family go without eating. It’s the first day of the Lunar New Year.”
Second Sister-in-law Han got up reluctantly and called the children to pay Han Qingsong their New Year greetings.
Second Sister-in-law Han didn’t want to move when she saw that the youngest aunt hadn’t gotten up yet, so she complained, “This bowl is broken, the steamed buns are gone and the dried sweet potatoes have to be steamed— what’s the point of making them.”
She was not happy to serve the whole family, so she was naturally full of complaints. Especially when Han Jinyu wanted to sleep until the sun was three feet high, it made her even more agitated.
Second Brother Han went to the other room and knocked on the window, “Jinyu, get up and help your Second Sister-in-law cook.”
Han Jinyu shouted angrily, “Is everyone dead? Why do I have to serve you all?”
She cried all night to the point where her voice was hoarse. Her eyes were swollen as well and she had no will to see anyone.
Old LadyHan used her crutches to knock on the edge of the kang, “How can a daughter-in-law not serve her parents-in-law?”
In front of Han Qingsong, Second Sister-in-law Han couldn’t try to act out. She had to eat anyway, so she started working, despite the fact that she did so begrudgingly.
After a while, Han Jinyu got up with a red face and a dejected look on her face. She didn’t say hello to Han Qingsong or look at him. She just waited for her Third Brother to take the initiative to talk to her.
As a result, Han Qingsong acted as if he hadn’t seen her and didn’t take the initiative to speak at all.
Han Jinyu felt aggrieved and was about to cry.
In the past, Eldest Sister-in-law Han had three meals a day. She would bring the rice and prepare it without anyone having to ask her for it and everyone would eat.
Now that Eldest Sister-in-law Han had given up her choice, the whole family was suddenly playing around, staring and sizing each other up.
Han Qingsong discovered that without Eldest Sister-in-law Han’s hard work and efforts, the family suddenly seemed like an old machine, almost desolate to the point of shutting down due to its impractical functionality.
He stood in the room for a while, thinking about his home that was full of laughter and joy and felt as if he was in two worlds.
Han Jinyu and Second Sister-in-law Han were still complaining to each other. They also complained that the Eldest Sister-in-law had neglected the housework and left all the burden to them.
Second Sister-in-law Han, “Sister-in-law, you light the fire and I’ll fill the pot.”
Han Jinyu, “Why should I light the fire?”
Han Jinyu didn’t want to light the fire because it was dirty and it would get dirt on her head.
Second Sister-in-law Han snorted, “Then you can fill the pot and I’ll light the fire. Don’t forget to cut the pickles.”
Han Jinyu prepared it reluctantly. Either she dropped one or spilled something else during the process, making a mess.
Second Sister-in-law Han didn’t care; she just kept lighting the fire.